Dear parents/guardians, members of the school community,
Please note the following changes and important updates that will take effect from Monday, 27th of September. I have also attached the HSE guidelines document below for your attention.
In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, it has been agreed that from September 27th 2021, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic (with no symtoms)
close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years in primary education and social and sporting groups is no longer recommended.
This means that children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified as a close contact in education settings, social and sporting groups, or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be routinely required to restrict their movements.
Automatic COVID 19 testing of asymptomatic close contacts identified in education settings, social and sporting groups will no longer take place; instead testing will focus on clinically relevant symptomatic disease.
Children aged between 3 months and 13 years who are identified, as household close contacts and are not fully vaccinated or have had a confirmed Covid-19 diagnoses in the last 9 months (even if they have no symptoms) will still need to restrict their movements and get a COVID 19 test.
A child is a household contact if they were present over-night, in the household of a COVID 19 case while the case was infectious. This may be in their own home or someone else’s home for example children who may have been on sleepovers with family or friends.
Public Health advice remains the same for any child between 3 months and 13 years of age with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 - they should immediately self-isolate, should not attend childcare or school or socialise and follow current public health advice.
A child who was previously identified as a close contact of a case of COVID 19 (other than a household close contact) and who does not have symptoms, will not be routinely recommended or required to restrict their movements and be tested from the school.
Close observation of children for symptoms which are consistent with COVID 19 are recommended at all times.
At school all infection prevention and control measures, including pods and other mitigation measures
remain in place.
Any child who was previously identified as a close contact of a case from outside of the
house provided that they have no symptoms of Covid-19 can return to school from Monday 27th September.
They do not need to present for COVID 19 testing before returning to school.
Kind regards,
R. Ryan
